![]() It will be taken up by the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs on Thursday the 30th, this week. On March 15th (beginning minute 38) a farmer / cultivator and members of our coalition were provided a short window in House Government Operations to speak to things currently in the bill - in particular the medical components and the propagation license. Latest Change: H.270, miscellaneous cannabis bill, was voted out of the House on 3/28 with minor revisions. There are multiple bills related to the regulated adult-use and medical cannabis market in VT this legislative session, we are currently most focused on 3 bills: H.270, H.426, S.127. Patients’ Alliance) to advance our goals related to a racially just, economically equitable, and agriculturally accessible cannabis economy in Vermont. Summary: Rural Vermont continues to work with other member based organizations of the VT Cannabis Equity Coalition (NOFA VT, VT Racial Justice Alliance, Vermont Growers’ Association, and the Green Mtn. While this new funding will be important, it will ultimately only benefit about 25 farms - more systemic change in the programmatic landscape is needed to service thousands of farms that are bleeding in this economy. We celebrate the good chance for the passage of H.205, which would establish a new Small Farmer Diversification and Transition Program. ![]() We’ve included a couple updates on stranded efforts as well which are not comprehensive. ![]() In our “crossover” legislative update we focus on those bills that have been moving and relate to agriculture. As such, the ag committees have been working (again) this year on the right-to-farm bill and the right-to-repair bill. Also, often bills are part of national campaigns and are being reintroduced session after session. A bill is not really “dead” oftentimes, for example: since the legislature meets in biennial sessions, technically bills can pass within two years when they are introduced in the first year. A bill is called “dead” when it didn’t move in favor, didn’t make crossover or didn’t pass in a session. After another day to digest the possibly amended version of the bill, a third reading gives the final yay or nay by the respective chamber. During the “second reading“ it's often those committees who present their recommendations through amendments to the version of the committee of origin to the “floor,” meaning all members of a chamber. ![]() Especially when there’s money involved, the appropriations committee will make recommendations on appropriating money from the State Treasury and the Ways and Means committee will make recommendations on measures to secure the revenue of the State. If the bill is moved in favor it may be referred to another committee. After editing the bill, often in multiple drafts with the help of legislative council, the committee will vote on the bill. In committee the bill subject is being discussed in hearings with various stakeholders. Three readings start with the bill introduction and referral to the committee of jurisdiction - first reading. There’s an effort made and likelihood to pass these bills the same year. That bill will have gone through three readings! 2. ![]() What is Crossover? Crossover literally describes a deadline, this year it was March 17th, by which a bill needs to pass through one chamber of the legislature to “cross over” to the other to have a chance to make it through the entire legislative process in the same year. ![]()
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